1 Corinthians 8
8
Food Offered to Idols
1Now concerning#8:1 The expression Now concerning introduces a reply to a question in the Corinthians’ letter; see 7:1 #ver. 4, 7, 10; See Acts 15:29 food offered to idols: we know that #See Rom. 15:14 “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” #Rom. 14:3 puffs up, #ch. 13:4-13but love builds up. 2#Gal. 6:3; [ch. 3:18] If anyone imagines that he knows something, #[ch. 13:8, 9, 12; 1 Tim. 6:3, 4]he does not yet know as he ought to know. 3But if anyone loves God, #Gal. 4:9; [Ex. 33:12, 17; Jer. 1:5; Nah. 1:7; 2 Tim. 2:19]he is known by God.#8:3 Greek him
4Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that #ch. 10:19; Isa. 41:24; [Acts 14:15] “an idol has no real existence,” and that #ver. 6; See Deut. 4:35, 39“there is no God but one.” 5For although there may be #2 Thess. 2:4so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”— 6yet #ver. 4; Mal. 2:10; Eph. 4:6 for us there is one God, the Father, #See Rom. 11:36 from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and #Eph. 4:5; [ch. 1:2; 1 Tim. 2:5]; See John 13:13 one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and #John 1:3; Col. 1:16through whom we exist.
7However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, #[Rom. 14:14, 22, 23] through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and #ch. 10:25, 28, 29their conscience, being weak, is defiled. 8#Rom. 14:17Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. 9But take care #[ch. 10:23; Rom. 14:21; Gal. 5:13] that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block #Rom. 14:1, 2to the weak. 10For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating#8:10 Greek reclining at table in an idol’s temple, will he not be encouraged,#8:10 Or fortified; Greek built up if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? 11And so by your knowledge this weak person is #Rom. 14:15, 20destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. 12Thus, sinning against your brothers#8:12 Or brothers and sisters and #[Zech. 2:8; Matt. 18:6] wounding their conscience when it is weak, #[Matt. 25:45]you sin against Christ. 13Therefore, #Rom. 14:13, 21; [2 Cor. 6:3; 11:29]if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.
Currently Selected:
1 Corinthians 8: ESV
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Sign up to receive news and updates about the ESV:
1 Corinthians 8
8
1But concerning things sacrificed to idols, we know, (for we all have knowledge: knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. 2If any one think he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know it. 3But if any one love God, he is known of him):
4— concerning then the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God save one. 5For and if indeed there are those called gods, whether in heaven or on earth, (as there are gods many, and lords many,) 6yet to us there is one God, the Father, of whom all things, and we for him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
7But knowledge is not in all: but some, with conscience of the idol, until now eat as of a thing sacrificed to idols; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. 8But meat does not commend us to God; neither if we should not eat do we come short; nor if we should eat have we an advantage. 9But see lest anywise this your right to eat itself be a stumbling-block to the weak. 10For if any one see thee, who hast knowledge, sitting at table in an idol-house, shall not his conscience, he being weak, be emboldened to eat the things sacrificed to the idol? 11and the weak one, the brother for whose sake Christ died, will perish through thy knowledge. 12Now, thus sinning against the brethren, and wounding their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. 13Wherefore if meat be a fall-trap to my brother, I will eat no flesh for ever, that I may not be a fall-trap to my brother.
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
First published in 1890. This edition is maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.